Slogging home from church, over icy sidewalks, I was reflecting on the morning’s experience and feeling a bit grumpy. It is way harder to offer a telling little Sunday Reflection when one has not been a part of the sermon and discussion portion of the Service.
But then I thought …”whoa”… surely, if I have been leading the children in a teaching on the same passage as that being preached, I should have something useful to put forward as a Sunday Reflection!
The text today was John 1: 29-42, about the calling of the first Disciples. We had 2 new children join our little group, and they were a brother and sister pair(Marcus and Elora), the same ages as my “regulars”. It was interesting to watch the dynamics as each 7 year old and each 4 year old sussed the other out.
We began with a reading of the passage and then talked it over as we munched on apple wedges and ginger cookies (helps the mental processes!) I gave a quick synopsis of Jesus’ Baptism and we talked about how it was good that he wanted to gather a group of friends together who would travel with him and learn all the special things he needed to teach them.
I had made a sample of our activity-a box scene, using clementine orange crates, little origami boats, which I had folded ahead of time, paper fish (Marcus cut out several sharks!) a fishing net and some nice bright blue cardboard “ocean”. Everyone enjoyed cutting, gluing and arranging their own scene.
Afterwards we had a time of open prayer. As I started to close off Marcus announced that he still wanted to pray! I think that was the little kernel of teaching that I received this morning; a small person who wanted to keep on praying. How often do we mumble our way through the Lord’s Prayer or Grace before a meal, only too ready to hurry on to the next thing, yet here was a little guy bursting with energy and keen to be doing stuff but still anxious to “take time to pray”.
That moment will stick with me this week. No, I really do not mind missing the “adult” sermon and discussion, there is so much to learn from a child!
Our children are blessed to learn to much from your example too! Thanks
I'm glad to spend time with them,as it is a learning experience not just for the children but for all of us together!